Bears Deliver A Painless Kill

November 05, 1990|By Bernie Lincicome, Chicago Tribune.

TAMPA — Vinny Testaverde still had his health, which gave him one less alibi for throwing five interceptions to the Bears. Better for Testaverde if he had been wounded someplace significant, other than his pride, which by now is used to the scorn of strangers.

``My toe?`` Testaverde considered an inquiry about the injury that had kept him out of last week`s game. ``The toe feels a lot better than I do right now.``

Testaverde stood there, trapped in his dressing space, a Heisman Trophy winner, a franchise centerpiece, the picture of youth and health, the ache on his face from failure, not from any blows inflicted by the Bears.

No blood, no bruises, no open wounds, Testaverde`s well-being one less excuse for playing quarterback so poorly that his own coach threatened to maybe never call another passing play, for returning so suddenly to being an overpaid disappointment instead of the quarterback his owner, Hugh

Culverhouse, had predicted would bring the Bucs 12 wins this year.

If Tampa Bay were to win all seven of its remaining games, it would finish at only 11 up, so Testaverde had not only been lousy, he had made the man who pays him $1.8 million a year a mathematical liar.

``The Bears are better than last year,`` Testaverde said. ``They`ve changed some things.``

Those things would be tighter coordination between coverage and rush, better disguised zones, more talented and healthier players, odder and unexpected blitzes. Testaverde would agree to all that.

But the real difference, something that would cheer Testaverde not at all, is that the Bears are just as happy to humiliate as mutilate, shame as well as scar. These Bears are as willing to irritate and confuse as to collect actual body parts as game souvenirs.

In the former days of rage, the defense was disappointed if a quarterback did not exit on a stretcher. Now it is just as well if he, as Testaverde did, has to rush off to his locker room with boos and insults ringing in his ears. ``Vinny, you spineless jellyfish,`` someone yelled at him as he passed under the canopy leading to the sanctuary of the showers.

Though he was sacked twice, Testaverde seemed suspiciously anxious to unload the ball, in whatever direction was prudent. He had entered the game the No. 2 passer in the league.

Someone mentioned to Testaverde that he was not the first quarterback this season the Bears have made look like a washerwoman. He was keeping company with Dave Krieg and Jim Everett and Don Majkowski and Wade Wilson. Only Wilson was injured. The rest were merely embarrassed.